Battie Mixon The Battie Mixon Fishing Pond is a mile-long stretch of fishing inside the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Located at Canal Mile 168, the pond was constructed in 1945 by a volunteer group of Western Maryland sportsmen and was named after the Allegany County game warden that conceived the idea. The fishing hole is stocked annually by the Maryland DNR and is a great place to catch rainbow trout, largemouth bass, sunfish, and[...]

“Citizen science? Not for me. I just want to go fishing.” That’s an understandable reaction. Sometimes all of us want just to kick back and relax on the water. But most of us anglers also want to learn to “think like a fish,” to hone our skills and catch more, even if we plan on releasing some of that catch. It turns out that the more we learn about ecology in our favorite waters, the[...]

Download The App Today! Choose your phone provider: AccessDNR is the official app from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources for the state's outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you want to visit a state park, hunt or fish, explore waterways by boat or kayak, or simply watch wildlife, the AccessDNR app provides all the information and services you need on the go. Features Include: Maps and directions to Maryland State Parks, trails, Wildlife Management Areas, boat launches[...]

Catching striped bass on dock lights in December is great, as long as you have tide movement and the right fly fishing gear. I personally like an 8 wt fast action rod with a floating line, for a leader I prefer a 20 lb tapered fluorocarbon leader 9’ long, and a black and purple size 2. Now not just any dock with a light will produce, you need to find one that has at least[...]

As summer fades and the first of September approaches, the excitement for the upcoming whitetail deer hunting season in Maryland starts to build. The thrill of the hunt is a culmination of months of preparation, strategy, and patience. As a first-generation whitetail deer hunter, I’ve learned over the last 6 years that proper preparation is crucial to a successful season. Three essential aspects I focus on leading into the whitetail deer season are archery practice[...]

A few billion will take to the air and some will inadvertently end up in the water. This creates a topwater feeding frenzy. During the last Brood X emergence 17 years ago, anglers noticed that fish keyed on anything that lingered on the surface as the cicada conditioned fish looked to the skies when eating. Around 2 inches in length, cicadas are not hard to find. They are all over trees and on the ground[...]

With the summer months just around the corner, one thing on most deer hunters’ minds, other than how soon they can get back in their tree stand, is the buck that slipped out of bow range or the one just across the fence line during gun season. Never mind the hardships and anticipation of deer hunting, here are some activities to pass the time that might help make you become a better deer hunter for[...]

Overview From the sprawling Chesapeake Bay tributaries like the Patapsco River to the quiet waters of Loch Raven Reservoir, Central Maryland provides anglers with plenty of target opportunities for Blue and Flathead Catfish in various habitats. These waterways boast abundant food sources and ample cover, including submerged structures and rocky outcrops, creating ideal conditions for catfish to thrive. With their accessibility and plentiful populations, the bodies of water in Central Maryland provide an excellent setting[...]

Ready to take the friends on a trip to the Maryland coast? You might want to start with some more specific information on Ocean City. Visit our Worcester CountyPage or check out Somerset County with easy access to the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Regardless where you might want to go, we suggest you book a charter fishing trip while you’re here. You can book a full or half day offshore charter, or a[...]